DENVER—Denver Water has taken the first steps to deal with an expected drought this summer.

Water commissioners on Wednesday asked customers to voluntarily take steps such as watering outdoors only two days per week and watering two minutes less. Denver Parks and Recreation responded by saying it would immediately decrease its water consumption target by 10 percent.

On May 1, Denver Water’s mandatory summer watering rules take effect. Those rules include no lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or during rain or strong winds.

Denver Water serves more than 1 million people. During the 2002 drought, it nearly ran out of water in the north end of its system. This winter, the utility reduced how much water left Gross Reservoir to reserve supplies.

Colorado Springs Utilities isn’t enacting new restrictions but it’s encouraging customers to water early in the morning and at night.

The owners of Boulder’s Sterling University Peaks apartments, who this summer were cited for illegally subdividing 92 bedrooms in the complex, have reached an agreement to settle the case for $410,000, the city announced Thursday.